Tampa Bay book World Series place

The Rays had the worst record in Major League Baseball last season

Tampa Bay Rays beat Boston Red Sox 3-1 in their American League Championship Series decider to win their play-off series 4-3 and reach the World Series.

Dustin Pedroia hit a solo home run for Boston in the first innings, but from then on the visitors were kept scoreless by Rays pitcher Matt Garza.

The Rays' Willy Aybar homered as Evan Longoria and Baldelli drove in runs.

Tampa Bay will face the Philadelphia Phillies in the seven-game World Series which begins in Tampa on Wednesday.

But reaching a World Series completes a remarkable turnaround for the Rays, who had the worst record in Major League Baseball last season but finished ahead of the much-fancied Red Sox and New York Yankees to win the American League East division title.

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The Red Sox had faced elimination when they trailed the Rays 3-1 and were 7-0 down in game five on Thursday, but recovered to win that match and Saturday's game six to force Sunday's decider.

But apart from Pedroia's early homer, they could not find a way past Garza's outstanding pitching.

Once he left the game in the top of the eighth inning, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon used four relievers - with Dan Wheeler, JP Howell and Chad Bradford all taking their turns on the mound.

With the bases loaded and JD Drew at the plate, rookie pitcher David Price struck Drew out - and stayed on the mound to pitch the final inning and earn the "save".

"This young man is composed beyond his years - kind of an ace in your back pocket," Maddon said.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona admitted: "The kid came in and pitched great. We had the guys up we wanted.

"We had men on (base), we had our chances and he threw the ball very, very well."